g cadaver. When Bathala saw that it was late and that the crow
had not returned, he sent the dove on the same errand, telling the bird
also to find out what had become of the first messenger. The dove flew
away, looking for any signs of life. At last he saw the crow eating
some of the decaying bodies. Immediately he told the crow that the
king had sent for him, and together they flew back to Bathala's palace.

When the two birds arrived at the king's court, the dove told Bathala
that the crow had been eating some dead bodies, and consequently
had not done what he had been sent to do. Bathala was very angry at
this disobedience. Without saying a word, he seized his big inkstand
filled with black ink and threw it at the crow, which was immediately
covered. Bathala then turned to the dove, and said, "You, my dove,
because of your faithfulness, shall be my favorite pet, and no longer
shall you be a messenger." Then he turned to the crow, and said,
"You, foul bird, shall forever remain black; you shall forever be a
scavenger, and every one shall hate you."

So that is why to-day the dove is loved by the people, and the crow
hated. The crows to-day are all black, because they are descendants
of the bird punished by Bathala.

Why the Crow is Black.

Narrated by Ricardo Ortega, an Ilocano living in Tarlac. The story,
however, is Pampangan.

The first crow that lived on the earth was a beautiful bird with a
sweet voice. The universe was ruled over by the god Sinukuan, and
all his subjects were either plants or animals. No human beings were
yet in existence. Sinukuan lived in a beautiful palace surrounded with
gardens of gold. In these gardens lived two crows who sang sweet songs,
and did nothing but fly about among the flowers and trees. Their golden
plumage was beautiful to see, and Sinukuan took great delight in them.

Once a terrible pestilence visited the earth, and a great many of
Sinukuan's animals began to die. In his distress and sorrow, Sinukuan
at once set out and made a tour of his kingdom to give what relief
he could to his suffering subjects. After being away three days,
he returned to his palace, his mind weighted down by all the death
and sickness he had seen. When he reached his garden, he called to
his two birds to come sing for him and relieve his mental anguish;
but neither of the birds came. Sinukuan went through his gardens, but
he called in rain. "O birds! where are you?" he cried. Thinking that
pe